Things you don't want to hear from your radiologist...

[Old Ironsights]

Hmmm... I think I remember reading about this in school. Gonna have to research a bit...

[mikld]

Yep, that's one big "Oh Sh**"...

[Blaine]

Was there a link of some sort? I don't see anything. Hope you're ok..

[Old Ironsights]

No link, and no Idea. Whenever they come up with something they will tell me... someday. It is the VA after all.

[Blaine]

No link, and no Idea. Whenever they come up with something they will tell me... someday. It is the VA after all.

Ok. Check out the Veterans Choice Program. You might have gotten a card/info already. It's working wonderfully for me, ie, specialized care appointments in a week or two from civilian health providers. You can pick your own if they will accept the VA "BS", or VA will steer you to a provider.
Last month I got a lower back MRI in a couple weeks from a top notch local provider instead of four months from now at the VA Seattle Hospital 50 miles up I-5.....VA really is getting better, but find out what is due, and make enough noise to get it. Re-look your disability %. The DAV (at least around these parts) will help you a great deal.

[Old Ironsights]

The Radiologist was a doc that I picked on Veterans Choice.

When he gets done researching the Ultrasound images/texts, he will report to my local VA Clinic Doc and I will likely get scheduled for a few more tests. Already had Xrays and a CT (had to drive 230 mi to Sheridan VA for those). Next is likely MRI, possibly a Colonoscopy (I'm due anyway) and or angiogram depending on how the notes compare.

[Blaine]

The Radiologist was a doc that I picked on Veterans Choice.

When he gets done researching the Ultrasound images/texts, he will report to my local VA Clinic Doc and I will likely get scheduled for a few more tests. Already had Xrays and a CT (had to drive 230 mi to Sheridan VA for those). Next is likely MRI, possibly a Colonoscopy (I'm due anyway) and or angiogram depending on how the notes compare.

Good for you.....I personally know far too many Vets that are dismissing anything VA tries to do...

[AJMD429]

Hmmm... I think I remember reading about this in school. Gonna have to research a bit...

I've told patients that a few times, usually just kidding to lighten the moment a bit, but a couple times it was for real.

Sometimes the doc who helps the patient the most is the one who takes the time to 'research' something though, versus the one that comes up right away with a pat answer and if that doesn't work blames the patient.

[Old Ironsights]

Hmmm... I think I remember reading about this in school. Gonna have to research a bit...

I've told patients that a few times, usually just kidding to lighten the moment a bit, but a couple times it was for real.

Sometimes the doc who helps the patient the most is the one who takes the time to 'research' something though, versus the one that comes up right away with a pat answer and if that doesn't work blames the patient.

Agreed. That's one reason why I went with this particular radiologist.

While I would have been more "comfortable" with EITHER a "positive" or "negative" reading, he won't do that.

And I appreciate it.

But in the end I still want to know...

[Old Ironsights]

and now I get to wait until Tuesday... or later.

Thanks "Federal Holidays" (but regardless, *I* "get" to work on Sat & Mon... regardless of the "pain that makes you sick without being pain, pain" ...)

Mind if my not-pain nausea takes over for a few?

[Ysabel Kid]

[AJMD429]

Ha... 'pain' just means you are weak, and if the cause can't be figured out by a first year medical student following a Medicare flowsheet, you are obviously faking, and just a drug addict.

Even if the pain is legitimate, instead of spending $20 a month on one medication that works and is safe, you need to take off work three afternoons a week, for therapy, spend $100 each session, and convert to four different pills costing $200 per month, and ensure sedation, hallucination, syncope, and seizures.

Or you can spend $900 every six weeks on a nerve block that reduces your pain slightly, or better yet have a surgery they say has a 60% chance it will reduce your pain, a 30% chance it won't help, and a 10% chance it will paralyze you...

That's "safer" than pain pills don't you see; thank God for the War on Drugs...

At least that's what we are taught these days...

(...what's really cool is that politicians license doctors to play GOD, as long as we practice 'medicine' the way they dictate....)

[Old Ironsights]

Ha... 'pain' just means you are weak, and if the cause can't be figured out by a first year medical student following a Medicare flowsheet, you are obviously faking, and just a drug addict.

At least that's what we are taught these days...

Good thing that most of what I can define as a "feeling" is the kind of nausea one gets adlfter the pain of getting kicked in the balls has subsided... Eh? Except mine doesn't go away.

But nausea is something that the .gov system recognizes anyway...

[AJMD429]

But nausea is something that the .gov system recognizes anyway...

....recognizes...??? They CAUSE it...!!!

[Old Ironsights]

But nausea is something that the .gov system recognizes anyway...

....recognizes...??? They CAUSE it...!!!

If only there were a pill for that that didn't require Chemo/Rad therapy....

But.... would be nice to NBC the source ...

[Gaucho Gringo]

I have been on pain pills for 17 years now and SS disability. I don't really like them but they have allowed me to live a halfway normal life. I went through the physical therapy, anti depressant, and every other routine or pill for chronic pain in the book. Nothing worked as well as the pain medication even though five years ago I voluntarily cut back to a little over 1\3rd of what I had been taking for years without my doctor knowing about it. He wrote me the riot act mainly because I took control and bypassed him. A little more pain but also more awareness. Although now I am to the point of where I am going to have to ask him to give me a little bit more pain medication after 5 years. I can understand very well what people with chronic pain are going through.

[piller]

My older brother, a Surgeon, has a saying that he was taught in medical school. "If you are in a pasture and you hear hoofbeats behind you, you know it has to be a horse, so, you don't need to waste time looking around." I have disagreed with him a few times, and he currently refuses to acknowledge that I even exist due to a situation in which a DNA exam proved that he was wrong about the reason for the patient's condition. In my career as a Pharmacist, I have seen enough to know that the Doctors like AJMD429 are the ones whose patients are most likely to get better. Fast assumptions and refusal to admit that you might be wrong are things that cause trouble in any career, and can really harm someone if you happen to be their health care provider. Don't be scared if your Doctor says he needs to research something.

[Old Ironsights]

Not scared of it, just want to know something.

Good, bad, whatever.

Intel is a good thing. Allows for action, even if that action is "do nothing".

[piller]

I understand. For now, you are probably just needing to hold your position, do not retreat, do not advance.

[octagon]

Good luck with this OI. Intelligence means knowing where to look for the correct answers when you don't know them.

[Old Ironsights]

Yeah, well now I get to wait to see a Urologist about an Orchiectomy and biopsy...

Maybe I can get great big brass ones in return.

Until then, life is about as much fun as shooting a .45-70 from the groin...

[octagon]

OI I've got some extra brass I could send you, for the retrofit. I wonder, after the orchiectomy, will you start voting democrat?

[Old Ironsights]

OI I've got some extra brass I could send you, for the retrofit. I wonder, after the orchiectomy, will you start voting democrat?

Not with enough brass &/or steel....

I'd be OK with Lead too. Can't leach enough to kill me before I'm dead anyway, so why not?

[octagon]

Had an uncle who underwent a bilateral. Was told he might make it five years. Twelve years of chasing his wife around later, went went to his reward. He was a big strapping farm boy, who sprayed a lot of caustic stuff in his life, a great guy. I am big bros with his oldest son , my Cuzbro

[Blaine]

Prayers, OI....

[Old Ironsights]

Had an uncle who underwent a bilateral. Was told he might make it five years. Twelve years of chasing his wife around later, went went to his reward. He was a big strapping farm boy, who sprayed a lot of caustic stuff in his life, a great guy. I am big bros with his oldest son , my Cuzbro

Like I said, not worried about it, just want to not be on mule kick pain...

I just need it fixed. I've got work to do.

[jeepnik]

Ha... 'pain' just means you are weak, and if the cause can't be figured out by a first year medical student following a Medicare flowsheet, you are obviously faking, and just a drug addict.

Even if the pain is legitimate, instead of spending $20 a month on one medication that works and is safe, you need to take off work three afternoons a week, for therapy, spend $100 each session, and convert to four different pills costing $200 per month, and ensure sedation, hallucination, syncope, and seizures.

Or you can spend $900 every six weeks on a nerve block that reduces your pain slightly, or better yet have a surgery they say has a 60% chance it will reduce your pain, a 30% chance it won't help, and a 10% chance it will paralyze you...

That's "safer" than pain pills don't you see; thank God for the War on Drugs...

At least that's what we are taught these days...

(...what's really cool is that politicians license doctors to play GOD, as long as we practice 'medicine' the way they dictate....)

That's close to the route my surgeon took with my back. But, he wanted to try everything else before he cut. A fact that I appreciated. I put up with the pain and pain killers until it was obvious surgery was need. He cut, and I'm probably 98% today. A good surgeon and his team plus prayer can do wonders. Never leave out the second part, it's the most important.

It's true some of the younger doctors these days are worried about over prescribing and the problems it can cause them. My secret was an old surgeon. He didn't play games his only concern was what was best for his patients.

[jeepnik]

Yeah, well now I get to wait to see a Urologist about an Orchiectomy and biopsy...

Maybe I can get great big brass ones in return.

Until then, life is about as much fun as shooting a .45-70 from the groin...

Prayers continuing OI.

[Old Ironsights]

Yeah, well now I get to wait to see a Urologist about an Orchiectomy and biopsy...

Maybe I can get great big brass ones in return.

Until then, life is about as much fun as shooting a .45-70 from the groin...

Prayers continuing OI.

Thanks. Not a big deal (unless Biopsy says otherwise) because We had them disconnected around 20 years ago. So other than T levels... Meh.

Pray for the poor saps(?) working for TSA if I get hypoallergenic coated steel replacements...

Beep Beep Beep! Metal? Oh yeah... Come fondle these baby...

[jeepnik]

Yeah, well now I get to wait to see a Urologist about an Orchiectomy and biopsy...

Maybe I can get great big brass ones in return.

Until then, life is about as much fun as shooting a .45-70 from the groin...

Prayers continuing OI.

Thanks. Not a big deal (unless Biopsy says otherwise) because We had them disconnected around 20 years ago. So other than T levels... Meh.

Pray for the poor saps(?) working for TSA if I get hypoallergenic coated steel replacements...

Beep Beep Beep! Metal? Oh yeah... Come fondle these baby...

Got to get wanded every time I go through. Even had to show one the scar. At least he apologized. My eldest just about sets them off 20yds away, compliments of an RPG. Folks joke that he clanks when he walks, almost true.